Two suspected Nipah virus cases have been detected at Barasat Hospital in West Bengal, officials said on Monday. State health teams visited the hospital to assess the situation. The Union health secretary reviewed the matter with senior state officers. A national outbreak response team has been sent to support containment steps. The team includes experts from NIV Pune, NIE Chennai, AIIMS Kalyani, and institutes in Kolkata. The NCDC has activated its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre to coordinate action. The Centre has shared guidelines with the state disease unit. Union Health Minister J P Nadda wrote to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and assured full support, including lab help, surveillance, and contact tracing. (PC: AI-Generated)

At least seven people have died and over 100 hospitalised in Indore’s Bhagirathpura area after consuming contaminated drinking water, city officials confirmed. The outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting was traced to a leak in the main water pipeline, allowing drainage water to mix with the municipal supply. Residents reported foul-smelling water before falling sick. Authorities are treating patients and investigating the cause, while suspensions and disciplinary actions have been ordered against municipal officials. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced compensation for victims’ families and free treatment. The incident has raised concerns about basic civic services in the cleanliness-acclaimed city. (PC: Instagram)

Hyderabad-based Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) has urged Australian health authorities to review a recent alert about counterfeit rabies vaccine batches circulating in India, saying the warning may cause undue public anxiety. The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation had cautioned that fake Abhayrab vaccine batches might have been in use since November 2023, advising travellers to consider revaccination. IIL countered that the issue involved only one specific counterfeit batch identified and reported in January 2025, which is no longer on the market, and has asked for the advisory to be revised to reflect the isolated nature of the incident. 

Parents of children with thalassemia in India are devastated after their children tested HIV positive. Five children in Madhya Pradesh and five in Jharkhand were found infected during routine tests. The children depend on regular blood transfusions to survive. Authorities have ordered probes into blood banks and hospitals involved. Health officials said treatment has started and the children are stable. Parents fear social stigma and loss of schooling. Activists say the cases expose gaps in blood screening. They have urged faster passage of stronger blood safety laws. (PC: BBC)

Hospitals across England are on high alert after new data showed flu cases hit record levels for this time of year. NHS England said more than 3,100 flu patients were in hospital last week. The rise has started to slow in some regions, but pressure remains high. The warning comes as resident doctors continue their strike action during the busy winter period. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said flu and strikes are putting strain on services. NHS leaders urged people to seek care when needed and get flu jabs. Ambulance delays have improved, but hospitals remain under stress. (PC: Sky News)

Indian scientists have warned about the risk of bird flu spreading to humans. Researchers from Ashoka University used computer models to study a possible outbreak. They said the virus could first infect people who work with poultry. The main danger begins if the virus spreads from human to human. The study found early action is crucial. Quarantine and isolation can stop the spread if done fast. Delay can lead to wider infection. The model was based on a poultry village in Tamil Nadu. Scientists said better monitoring and quick response can prevent a major outbreak. Health officials are urged to stay alert. (PC: BBC)

A major probe has found that a sperm donor carrying a cancer-causing TP53 gene mutation fathered at least 197 children in Europe. Some children have already developed cancer, and a few have died. The donor passed normal checks, but up to 20% of his sperm carried the mutation linked to Li-Fraumeni syndrome, which gives a high lifetime cancer risk. The sperm was used in 14 countries. A small number of British women who travelled abroad for treatment have been informed. Experts say there is no global limit on sperm use and screening cannot catch every risk. (PC: BBC)

A peer-reviewed study from Delhi’s Maulana Azad Medical College and Lok Nayak Hospital reveals that music played during general anaesthesia can reduce drug requirements and speed recovery. Conducted on 56 patients undergoing laparoscopic gallbladder removal, the trial showed those exposed to calming flute or piano music required lower doses of propofol and fentanyl, experienced smoother recoveries, reduced stress-hormone levels, and better blood pressure control. Researchers highlight that the auditory pathway remains active even under anaesthesia, allowing music to positively influence the brain’s internal state. Experts say this simple intervention could humanise operating rooms, improve patient wellbeing, and reshape modern surgical care. (PC: BBC) 

Three-year-old Oliver Chu from California has astounded doctors after becoming the first person globally to receive groundbreaking gene therapy for Hunter syndrome, a rare inherited condition causing progressive brain and body damage. The devastating disease typically proves fatal before age 20. At Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, medical staff altered Oliver's stem cells by inserting a working copy of the faulty gene, enabling his body to produce the missing enzyme crucial for cellular health. Nine months post-treatment, Oliver is thriving producing hundreds of times normal enzyme levels, developing speech and mobility dramatically, and no longer requiring weekly infusions. The £2.5 million trial, nearly cancelled due to funding issues, now includes five boys worldwide, offering hope for similar genetic disorders. (PC: BBC) 

A Reuters investigation found that contaminated cold syrup produced by Sresan Pharmaceutical caused at least 24 child deaths, due to diethylene glycol (DEG) poisoning. The solvent used (propylene glycol) was repackaged by unlicensed distributors, breaching safety protocols. Inspections revealed “critical” violations at Sresan’s factory, including unhygienic storage and data falsification. Despite prior fines, the plant hadn’t been inspected since 2023. The incident has reignited global concerns about safety oversight in India’s pharmaceutical industry.  (PC: Reuters)